Oundle School

Oundle School
Founded in 1556, Oundle School is one of Britain’s leading co-educational
independent schools with a full boarding ethos, situated in the small, charming
market town of Oundle, Northamptonshire. Travel from London is less than
an hour by train yet the School enjoys a beautiful setting in the heart of the
UK countryside. The School and town are closely entwined, with Oundelians
taking their place within this wider community, not isolated from it.

The best of modern boarding
Oundle has long been associated with the very best of modern independent
boarding education. Full boarding is at the heart of Oundle’s identity as a
school, ensuring valuable continuity and all-important friendships throughout
the whole week, including weekends. Every House is home to those who live
and work there, staff and pupils alike and is a space where everyone can relax,
be themselves and feel confident. All meals are taken together as a House
community in a cosy, family style dining experience. Around twenty-five
percent of Oundelians are welcomed from 30+ countries across the world,
with the rest of the pupil body coming from all corners of the UK, resulting
in a rich and diverse community with an international outlook. The majority
of boarders join at 13+ but there is also a strong intake at 11+, which gives
younger boarders the perfect opportunity to springboard into School life.

Academic success
Pupils emerge from Oundle as decent, open-minded adults, ambitious
about what they can go on to achieve and contribute, but never arrogant.
That is not to diminish the School’s academic results which are steadfastly
excellent. Last year Oundelians achieved 35% A* 65% A*A and 87% A*-B at
A Level. At GCSE, 42% of grades were 9, 68% 9/8 and 94% 9-6. On average
10% of Oundelians gain Oxbridge offers and most pupils take up Russell
Group university places, with increasing numbers looking across the world
for the best higher education institutions with a more global approach.

Oundle offers a huge breadth of subjects and opportunities; seven
timetabled languages, twenty-nine A Level options, twenty-six GCSE/IGCSE
options and over forty academic societies. Oundelians are encouraged to
look beyond their current strengths and interests, harness their natural
intellectual curiosity and explore new avenues for learning.

Developing global contributors
The co-curriculum is vital to the achievement of the School’s broad
educational vision. Its span is wide-ranging, and includes opportunities for
creativity, service and leadership. The School is proud of being the largest
DofE centre in Central England, of having the largest School CCF in the
country and, though Community Action, of empowering pupils to make
a difference to the various communities they serve. Sport is flourishing;
outstanding facilities support the School’s vision to nurture excellence

Senior
and enjoyment at the top competitive level across every sport, as well as
fostering lifelong habits to remain fit, healthy and active for all abilities
through a wide selection of team and individual sporting options. The Arts
plays a huge role in the life of Oundelians, with around 20 productions
performed annually in the Stahl Theatre, and over 50% of pupils learning at
least one musical instrument. A unique formal partnership with the Royal
College of Music has further raised the profile of Music with RCM professors
delivering workshops across different specialisms at the School and an
annual concert held at the at the RCM in the Amaryllis Fleming Concert Hall.

Outstanding facilities
Oundle has long shown itself to be open to innovation and change,
combining a strong and traditional educational model with new disciplines,
techniques and facilities. Since the leadership of Oundle’s most famous
headmaster, FW Sanderson, the School has been at the forefront of Science
and Engineering education. In 2016, Oundle completed its SciTec vision,
bringing together Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
physically and philosophically. SciTec was developed with the support of
Imperial College London and Swansea University and sets the benchmark
standard for such facilities across the country. The most recent development
focus has been on resourcing a modern, thoughtful vision of sport. A new
state-of-the-art sports centre houses a 50-meter pool, an 8-court sports
hall, a fitness suite, and multiple studios, all in addition to the previous
Sports Centre that includes squash, fives, a performance gym, cricket nets
and a golf simulator. Outside facilities include an athletics track, tennis
courts, AstroTurfs, cricket nets, and netball courts. These facilities support
top-level competitive sports while also catering for a multitude of sports and
leisure activities at all levels.

Pastoral care
Oundle is a vibrant place where the fulfilment of each and every individual
is a constant focus. The House system is at the heart of both School life
and pastoral care. Every pupil is part of a small, carefully structured House
tutorial group which spans all years, reflecting a family feel and allowing
older pupils to act as mentors to the younger ones. Pupils always have
someone to turn to and someone to look out for them. Outside the Houses,
there is a dedicated Health Centre where qualified nurses and School doctors
provide healthcare advice around the clock. Oundle also has a Mental Health
Lead and a dedicated Emotional Wellbeing Team, as well as Chaplaincy visits
and professional counselling, all helping pupils develop emotional resilience
and build positive relationships.

Life beyond Oundle
Oundle is a place where people matter and where pupils have every
opportunity possible to achieve the qualifications, skills, values and attitudes
that will sustain them into adulthood. There is no single set model of
a successful Oundelian; what stands out is their curiosity, bravery and independence alongside their commitment to succeed.